With the new implementation of teachers being permitted to give zeroes in the gradebook, data showed that there was an increase in the number of E’s at Sherwood from last year for first quarter grades. The increase was not unexpected, and the teachers have plans in place to address students struggling to pass. Post-interims, teachers reported grades to the resource teachers (RT) of that department. Once the data is assessed, teachers come up with a plan to help their students with Ds and Es to raise their grades.

When looking at the reasons why a student’s grades are dropping, attendance seems to be the biggest factor as to why a student will do very poorly in class. “Oftentimes if a student isn’t in class, they struggle,” said social studies teacher Robert Hiller. In many classes, students are given time in class to start or complete assignments. If they do not attend class, they may fall behind. If they then fail to submit this work on time, it can lead to ten percent deductions or a zero all together if the assignment is never completed.

Additionally, there are some students who are present at school but are not completing All Tasks assignments that are homework. In previous years, students received automatic 50-percent grades even for assignments they did not do. Now, students receive zeroes. The missing work can significantly impact a student’s grade, especially at the beginning of the marking period. When students start the marking period off with a low grade, it is very hard for them to get their grade back up and in a good position to finish the quarter. This is because they are essentially playing catch-up for most of the marking period.

Grades are not dropping at an alarming rate, however. Staff knew that grades would drop with the new grading policy so they were prepared. With new plans set in place, they expect that students’ grades will increase by the end of each quarter. Data shared by Staff Development Teacher Sarah Pruchniewski showed that one class had twenty-one E’s at the interim mark, but finished with half that number.

Though the data says more students are failing, teachers say otherwise. “To my surprise … I have fewer D’s and E’s than last year,” said Hiller, and many other teachers are encouraging students to turn in their missing assignments more than past years. This is due to the fact that a zero in the gradebook will drop student’s grades more than an E.